House Bill 752: Limits Exemption Options

Although compulsory school attendance in Missouri generally begins at age 7, children who are enrolled in public school between the ages of 5 and 7 must continue to attend public school. However, current law allows the parent of a child between the ages of 5 and 7 to have the child excused from attendance at school simply by making a written request that the student be dropped from the school's rolls. If parents regret enrolling their children because the child wasn't ready to attend school, they can take them back out relatively easily.

This bill would make withdrawal a much more difficult and time-consuming process by requiring parents who wished to withdraw children in this age bracket to transfer them to a different school, or have undefined "health reasons" for withdrawal. Absent either of these, the parents would need to have a discussion with the principal or his designee about the educational options available for the child before the child could be withdrawn.

HSLDA's Position:

Oppose.

Action Requested:

None at this time

Status:

3/03/2011 (House) Introduced and Read First Time
3/07/2011 (House) Read Second Time
3/10/2011 (House) Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education